While many things in K-12 education are changing, at least one in Gwinnett County is remaining the same. Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks will head the school district for at least another two years — through June 30, 2022.
The board of education voted unanimously Thursday to approve a new contract with the base salary of $380,971.88, effective Jan. 1. With a transportation allowance of $1,500 per month, an expense allowance of $1,200 per month, a retirement supplement of $3,500 per month, a longevity supplement of $6,250 per month and an annual contribution of $31,822.31 made on his behalf to the Georgia Teachers Retirement System, his yearly compensation comes to $562,194.19.
Last year Wilbanks was the highest paid school district superintendent in the state.
“I am glad to be able to serve Gwinnett County Public Schools for two more years,” Wilbanks said in a written statement. “We have a great county, an outstanding school district, and dedicated people, and I am just glad to be associated with them. Over the years we have done some great things but the job is not finished.”
By the end of this new contract, Wilbanks will have served as superintendent of Gwinnett for more than 26 years. That makes him among the longest-serving superintendents, if not the longest-serving. He was named chief executive officer and superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools in March 1996. He will also have 57 years in education.
His career began with technical education in DeKalb County, and he came to Gwinnett as the director of technical and vocational education in 1982. He then became the first president of Gwinnett Technical College in 1984.
Here’s a list of the highest paid superintendents in Georgia in 2018:
(At least three of them, Rose in Fulton County, Green in DeKalb and Hamby in Buford, are no longer the superintendents there, and Carstarphen’s tenure is set to end in June 2020.)
1. J. Alvin Wilbanks, Gwinnett County Board of Education: $569,375.11
2. Meria Carstarphen, Atlanta Independent School System: $461,918.35
3. Jamar Morcease Beasley, Clayton County Board of Education: $387,344.70
4. Jeffrey W. Rose, Fulton County Board of Education: $367,153.39
5. Robert S. Green, Dekalb County Board of Education: $334,200.00
6. Curtis L. Jones, Bibb County Board of Education: $324,000.17
7. Jeffrey Byron Bearden, Forsyth County Board of Education: $311,542.63
8. Geye S. Hamby, City of Buford Board of Education: $308,000.04
9. John A. Jackson, Floyd County Board of Education: $294,687.12
10. Marie A. Levett, Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education: $275,542.25
11. Joseph C. Barrow, Fayette County Board of Education: $273,636.81
12. Angela D. Pringle, Richmond County Board of Education: $261,152.04
13. Mark A. Scott, Houston County Board of Education: $251,674.65
14. Mark D. Albertus, City of Carrollton Board of Education: $250,575.24
15. Julian Howard Hinesley, City of Cartersville Board of Education: $232,742.40
Source: Open Georgia
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